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NACC Probes Nam Phong Dam Budget for Delays, Riverbank Collapse Fears

NACC Probes Nam Phong Dam Budget for Delays, Riverbank Collapse Fears

MGR Online•Society•1d ago

Reader Briefing

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is investigating a 110 million baht embankment dam project on the Nam Phong River in Khon Kaen due to contractor delays, raising fears of potential riverbank collapse during the upcoming rainy season.

  • •The NACC, PACC, and Governance Committee are inspecting a 110 million baht embankment dam project on the Nam Phong River in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
  • •The project is delayed because no contractor has been secured, despite being a crucial measure to prevent riverbank erosion and flooding.
  • •Local residents are concerned about potential damage to homes and property if the riverbanks collapse during the rainy season.
  • •The embankment project, intended to protect an area of at least 600 meters, is budgeted to be funded from 2026-2028.

Overview

  • •The site visit occurred on May 29, with officials from NACC, PACC, and the Khon Kaen Governance Committee present.
  • •The project's budget is 110 million THB for constructing an embankment dam along the Nam Phong River, spanning at least 600 meters.
  • •The construction project is delayed due to the inability to find a contractor, causing it to enter the third quarter of the fiscal year without commencement.
  • •Residents in Tambon Ban Dong, Ubolrat District, Khon Kaen, are affected by continuous riverbank erosion and flooding, awaiting the dam project as a critical solution.
  • •The delay is attributed to the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning's failure to secure a contractor for the embankment dam project.
  • •Villagers fear severe riverbank collapse and damage to their homes if the embankment project is not completed before the rainy season and water release from Ubolrat Dam.
  • •The Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning anticipates securing a contractor and commencing construction within the year 2026, after the water levels recede.
  • •Ms. Bang-orn Sappipat stated the NACC's focus on provincial offices monitoring large state projects to prevent corruption, aiming to ensure tangible flood solutions.

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Key Quotes

Ms. Bang-orn Sappipat
"This site visit is to follow up on the procurement process and assess how the public will benefit, especially in bringing tangible hope for flood solutions. This aligns with the NACC's policy for provincial offices to monitor state agency spending on large projects to prevent corruption."
การลงพื้นที่ครั้งนี้ เพื่อติดตามความคืบหน้าในกระบวนการจัดซื้อจัดจ้าง รวมถึงประเมินว่าประชาชนจะได้รับประโยชน์จากโครงการอย่างไร โดยเฉพาะการสร้างความหวังการแก้ปัญหาน้ำท่วมอย่างเป็นรูปธรรม ทั้งเป็นไปตามนโยบายของสำนักงาน ป.ป.ช. ที่มุ่งเน้นให้สำนักงาน ป.ป.ช. ประจำจังหวัด ลงพื้นที่เฝ้าระวังการใช้งบประมาณของหน่วยงานรัฐในโครงการขนาดใหญ่ เพื่อป้องกันการทุจริต
Mr. Somjit Khamsai
"Self-resolution is impossible; it requires significant budget. We place our hope in government projects and urge relevant agencies to expedite the process, as villagers are waiting and worried that the rainy season and water release from Ubolrat Dam might cause further riverbank collapse."
การแก้ปัญหาด้วยตนเองทำไม่ได้ ต้องใช้งบประมาณจำนวนมาก จึงฝากความหวังไว้กับโครงการของภาครัฐ พร้อมเรียกร้องให้หน่วยงานที่เกี่ยวข้องเร่งดำเนินการโดยเร็วที่สุด เพราะชาวบ้านต่างเฝ้ารอและกังวลว่า หากเข้าสู่ฤดูฝนและมีการปล่อยน้ำจากเขื่อนอุบลรัตน์ อาจทำให้เกิดการพังทลายของตลิ่งเพิ่มขึ้นอีก

Key Entities

Organization

National Anti-Corruption Commission(ป.ป.ช.)ℹ️
The primary anti-corruption agency in Thailand, involved in investigating and monitoring government projects.
Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission Region 4(ปปท. เขต 4)
A regional branch of the anti-corruption body, participating in site inspections and investigations.
Khon Kaen Good Governance Committee(ก.ธ.จ.ขอนแก่น)
A local committee focused on promoting good governance and overseeing public projects in Khon Kaen province.
Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning(กรมโยธาธิการและผังเมือง)
The government agency responsible for the embankment dam construction project, currently facing issues with contractor procurement.

Place

Nam Phong River(แม่น้ำพอง)
The river where the embankment dam construction project is being undertaken.
Khon Kaen Province(จังหวัดขอนแก่น)ℹ️
The province where the delayed embankment dam project is located.
Ban Dong Subdistrict(ตำบลบ้านดง)
The subdistrict within Ubolrat District, Khon Kaen, where the embankment dam project is situated and residents are affected by erosion.
Ubolrat District(อำเภออุบลรัตน์)
The district in Khon Kaen Province containing Ban Dong Subdistrict, the site of the delayed dam construction.
Ubolrat Dam(เขื่อนอุบลรัตน์)ℹ️
A dam whose water release during the rainy season is a concern for potential exacerbation of riverbank erosion near the Nam Phong River.

Person

Ms. Bang-orn Sappipat(นางสาวบังอร ทรัพย์พิพัฒน์)
Head of the Anti-Corruption Prevention Group at the Khon Kaen Provincial NACC Office, overseeing the investigation of the dam project's delays.
Ms. Kanokporn Swaengchawet(นางสาวกนกพร แสวงเฉวตร)
Justice Technician Level Professional at Region 4 Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, participating in the site inspection.
Dr. Samyong Kaeosupann(ดร.สมยงค์ แก้วสุพรรณ)
Vice Chairman of the Khon Kaen Provincial Good Governance Committee, involved in monitoring the budget and transparency of the dam project.
Dr. Rueangyot Waadlom(ดร.เรืองยศ แวดล้อม)
Academic Advisor to the Khon Kaen Provincial Good Governance Committee, participating in the project follow-up.
M.T. Chuthai Wongbunmee(นายหมวดตรีชูไทย วงศ์บุญมี)
Public Relations Advisor to the Khon Kaen Provincial Good Governance Committee, part of the inspection team.
Ms. Chayapa Simmathan(นางชญาภา สิมมาทัน)
Member of the Khon Kaen Provincial Good Governance Committee, participating in the site visit.
Mr. Arm Rattanachote(นายอาร์ม รัตนโชติ)
Head of the Engineering Planning Group at the Khon Kaen Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office, responsible for explaining the project details.
Mr. Somjit Khamsai(นายสมจิตร คำสี)
A 63-year-old resident of Moo 6, Ban Dong Subdistrict, Khon Kaen, expressing the community's reliance on and concern about the embankment dam project.

Stat

110 Million Baht Budget(งบประมาณ 110 ล้าน)
The financial allocation for the embankment dam construction project.

Timeline

2026-2028(ปี 2026-2028)
The fiscal years (Thai Buddhist Era) for which the embankment dam project's budget is committed.